Oncology Nursing - School of Nursing
Transcription
Oncology Nursing - School of Nursing
U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H S C H O O L O F N U R S I N G M A G A Z I N E + WINTER 2003 PITT T HI S I SS U E A L S O I NS I DE Nurs e O nc o l o gy Nu rs ing 2 0 0 3 A LU M N I DAY I N V I TATI O N E N C L O S E D | S P O T L I G H T O N C A M E O S O F C A R I N G ABOUT THE COVER: Oncology nurses play diverse roles in the fight against cancer, including the administration of chemotherapy. Tammy (McElhinny) Enders (BSN ‘87) is one of many Pitt alumni who are making an impact in oncology nursing. Inside PI TT N U R S E D E A N’ S M E S S AG E 1 NU R S E B E AT 2 FI R S T P E R S O N 6 C AMEOS PA G E 8 PA G E 1 4 F E AT U R E S M O B IL I ZI N G T H E F R O N T L I N E S 8 The largest such organization in the world, the Oncology Nursing Society has achieved its lofty stature, in large part, due to the leadership provided by graduates of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. O N C O LO G Y T R A IL B L A Z E R 14 Ever since the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing created one of the country’s first Oncology Nurse Practitioner Programs in , the School has become nationally renowned for its cutting-edge oncology academic and research programs. OF C A R I NG 18 C U T T I NG ED G E 20 A L U M N I S NA P S H OT 22 S T U D E N T S N A P S H OT 24 D EV E L O P M E N T N E W S 26 A L U M N I N E W S + N OT E S 27 A L U M N I D AY 2 0 0 3 31 REMEMBER W HEN 32 WH AT ’ S H A P PE N I N G ? 33 D E A N ’ S M E S S AG E IN NURSING , our activities on behalf of patients often cross disease conditions as we develop skills in primary prevention, management of chronic illnesses, care delivery in hospital settings, and research and education. Often, however, multiple threads of nursing care are woven within a specific disease or condition. One such condition is cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, ,, new cases of cancer were expected in . The costs of this disturbance in cellular regulation exceeded $ billion in . And while new treatments are reducing the death rates from cancer, it still represents the second leading cause of death in the United States. One-third of these deaths are reported to be related to various lifestyle factors including, but not limited to, nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity. Other factors, such as genetics and the environment, also contribute to the occurrence of many types of cancer. The nurse, in collaboration with the oncologist, plays a consistent and dominant role in the delivery of cancer care. After the physician makes the diagnosis and prescribes the plan of treatment and care, oncology nurses provide patient education, symptom management, and psychological support. Oncology nurses also administer chemotherapy and assess for side effects. And when necessary, oncology nurses provide end-of-life care for patients and their families. Nurses clearly play a key role in the entire spectrum of cancer care. This issue of Pitt Nurse proudly salutes the key roles School of Nursing faculty, students, and alumni play in the entire continuum of cancer care. Their work in cancer treatment, education, and research has positioned them on the front lines in the fight against cancer. PI TT N U RS E WINT ER 2003 1 SINCE I LAST wrote to you in Pitt Nurse, the School of Nursing has lost two influential leaders in pediatric nursing. Dr. Florence Erickson and Dr. Corinne Barnes made significant contributions not only to nursing, but also to the School during their illustrious professional careers. Their memory will linger as they continue to promote the education of future pediatric nurse faculty through generous lectureship and scholarship endowments. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Erickson and Dr. Barnes for the enriching legacy they have left the nursing profession and the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Sincerely, JACQUELINE DUNBAR-JACOB , PHD, RN, FAAN DEAN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING * N U R S E B E AT B RI DG IN G T HE G A P S It’s a sad irony. Despite living in a country with one of the world’s best health care and human services systems, thousands of at-risk Americans continue to fall through the cracks every day. Pitt is responding to that challenge by participating in an innovative program called Bridging The Gaps Community Health Internships. Collaborating with the other health sciences schools at the University of Pittsburgh, the School of Nursing is helping to meet the needs of some of Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable residents. “We want to give our nursing students an experiential education about the challenges of caring for underserved populations,” says Ann Mitchell, PhD, RN, assistant professor and coordinator of this program for the School of Nursing. “Our students are learning they don’t have to travel to a Third World country to address a dire need for health care services.” This past summer, six junior and senior nursing students participated in a number of community health internships in the City of Pittsburgh, working with groups such as children coping with violence, individuals struggling to overcome substance abuse, and homeless persons looking for shelter and self-esteem. “This internship gave me a better appreciation of problems faced by many of our communities,” says Meghan Crawford, a junior nursing student who worked with youth at a community center in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. Mitchell feels all students could benefit by participating in this annual summer internship. “Every student comes away with a greater understanding of the needs of the underserved and lessons learned that will stay with them throughout their careers,” she says. S T EM C ELL RES EA RCH: HYP E OR HOPE ? Imagine Chris topher Reeve walking again or scientists curing diabetes with a single injection of cells. Then again, consider the disturbing prospect of scientists developing techniques leading to human cloning for reproductive purposes. Two Pitt professor s debated the pros and cons of stem cell research during the Maryann F. Fralic Distinguished Lectureship, held at the School of Nursing on October 18. Alan J. Russell, PHD, director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, professor of surgery, and professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, said that while both embryonic and adult stem cell research show promise in battling disease, no one knows which type of stem cell is more promising in the long run. “It will be another 10 years before we’ll see a real broad clinical utility, and maybe another 3-5 years before we really know what the chances are that these therapies will work in humans,” Russell told a capacity audience at the Victoria Building. “The ethical implications of stem cell research are just as daunting,” said Alan Meisel, JD, professor of law and psychiatry. “Stem cell research, to the extent that it involves human embryos, gets implicated in the decades-old debate that includes issues of abortion, tissue research, and transplantation. But by not doing, or by limiting embryonic stem cell research, we will miss out on developing new therapies. That may put us at a disadvantage in competition with other countries.” Look for information about the 2003 Maryann F. Fralic Distinguished Lectureship in the Summer 2003 issue of Pitt Nurse. NIP PI NG D IS AS T ER I N TH E B UD As the tragedies from 9/11 so vividly demonstrated, no building is invulnerable to a terrorist attack. However, that doesn’t mean safeguards can’t be set up to prevent or minimize damage from a disaster. A good example is the Victoria Building – the four-story facility that houses the School of Nursing in Oakland’s hospital district. In October 2001, the School of Nursing formed an Emergency Response Planning and Safety Task Force, comprised of faculty, staff, and students from the School. The task force soon began working on a progressive disaster preparedness plan to ensure a quick response to various types of disasters – ranging from storms to fires to terrorist attacks. The task force has updated, added, or replaced building emergency response evacuation routes and procedures in all classrooms and public areas of the Victoria Building. In addition, a “Suspicious Mail Kit” was developed and distributed to various departments throughout the building. Educational sessions, taught by experts in their respective fields, have also been presented to faculty, staff, and students. Topics have ranged from the bioterrorism threat to post-traumatic stress syndrome. 2 UN IV E RS I TY OF PIT T S BUR G H NU RSE ANE S THESI A P ROGR A M B OOSTS EN RO LLME NT The University of Pittsburgh’s Nurse Anesthesia Program recently opened its doors to students who were displaced after the closure of the St. Francis Hospital School of Anesthesia. As a result, Pitt’s Nurse Anesthesia Program’s first year class increased to 39 students, the largest in the history of the program. The program now has 19 active clinical sites available for training to accommodate this increase in the student population. KE EP ING AS TRONA UTS H EALT H Y L Put yourself in these shoes for a minute. You’re an astronaut floating in the space shuttle, a mere 230 miles above Earth. One of your crew members has suddenly come down with chills and a fever. His health is vital to the success of this mission, and the shuttle isn’t scheduled to return home for another two weeks. What do you do? That’s the question NASA recently posed to Mary Kerr, PhD, RN, FAAN, and several other health care practitioners. Kerr, director of the School of Nursing’s Center for Nursing Research, was one of two nurses who joined several physicians and pharmacists for a pharmaceutical summit at NASA’s Wiley Space Laboratory in Houston, Texas. “NASA wanted to know which medications should be stocked in the pharmaceutical pack that travels aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station,” Kerr explains. “We were also asked to run the flight surgeons through some medical emergencies that might occur during a mission.” Kerr found the summit to be an eye-opening experience. “It was interesting to be part of a group that was trying to solve some physiologic puzzles,” she says. “For instance, we had to hypothesize whether certain drugs would work in anti-gravity situations and how well they would keep during lengthy refrigeration. It’s great to know a nurse’s input is appreciated for such an important project.” P HO NE -A -T HO N MAKE S G R E AT CO NN EC T I O N S Faculty from the School of Nursing, along with current PhD students, called doctoral alumni last October to update records and to gather ideas for the 50th anniversary of the School’s doctoral program. Calls to baccalaureate and master’s graduates will take place this coming year. 2004 will also mark the 60th anniversary of master’s level education at the School of Nursing and the 65th anniversary of the BSN program. Dean Dunbar-Jacob believes if more graduates are involved from the beginning of the planning pro ce ss, alumni participation will increase significantly. “If you were not contacted during the phone-a-thon, we would like to hear from you,” she says. “Not only do we want to update your records, we also would like to hear your suggestions for the anniversary celebration.” For more information, contact Joan Nock, associate director of Alumni Relations, at 412.624.2404 or via e-mail at jno100@pitt.edu. S HA RIN G T HE H OL IDAY SPI RI T ( FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Joan Nock, Kris Stebler, Jennifer Whitehurst, Arlene Loeffler, and Mary Rodgers Schubert helped deliver non-perishable groceries to the Matilda Theiss Health Center shortly before Christmas. The groceries were donated by faculty and staff from the School of Nursing, as part of the School’s annual holiday food drive. The food was distributed to underprivileged families from Pittsburgh who receive services from the Center. The School of Nursing has provided various community outreach programs to the Matilda Theiss Health Center the past seven years, including a faculty clinical practice and a baby fair for expectant mothers. PI TT N U RS E WINT ER 2003 3 * N U R S E B E AT Faculty News Susan A. Albrecht, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean, for Student and Alumni Services and Development, was elected president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, District 6. Jan Barber, MSN, RN, clinical instructor, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, was a plenary session speaker at Canada’s National Nursing Conference, hosted by the Colleges of Licensed Practical Nursing of Manitoba and Alberta, Canada. She and a colleague spoke on an LPN role advancement project they had completed while working as clinical nurse specialists at Allegheny General Hospital. Catherine Bender, PhD, RN, assistant professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, was selected to give the State of the Science Lecture for the American Cancer Society/Oncology Nursing Society’s Seventh National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research. Lisa Bernardo, PhD, RN, associate professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, was named co-editor of Core Curriculum for Pediatric Emergency Nursing, published by Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Willa M. Doswell, PhD, RN, FAAN, assistant professor, Department of Health Promotion and Development, received a grant award from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Race and Social Problems for her study, “Influences of the Conceptualization and Processing of Racial Stereotypes on the Intended Sexual Behavior of African-American Early Adolescents: A Pilot Study Using the Theory of Mediated Action.” Nancy C. Grove, PhD, RN, associate professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Arbutus Park Retirement Community in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. John M. O’Donnell, MSN, RN, instructor, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, for his study, “Nurse Anesthesia Rural and Elderly Expansion Project.” Mary Pat Mellors, PhD, RN, was promoted to research assistant professor, Department of Health Promotion and Development, and received the Ruth Perkins Kuehn Research Award. Donna G. Nativio, PhD, RN, associate professor, Department of Health Promotion and Development, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Society of Primary Care Policy Fellows. Dr. Nativio was selected as a Primary Care Policy Fellow in a national competition in 1997, when she was nominated by the American College of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Nativio was also reappointed to the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Content Expert Panel. Gayle R. Whitman, PhD, RN, associate professor, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, received a grant award from the American Nurses Foundation for her study, "Impact of CNS Interventions on Cardiac Surgery Patient Outcomes." She was also named president-elect of the Pennsylvania/ Delaware affiliate of the American Heart Association. Kim Yookyung, PhD, RN, assistant professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, received an Early Career Investigator Award from the International Society for Quality of Life Research. New Faculty Student News The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is pleased to we lcome the fo l lowing new faculty: Beth Holmes, BSN, a secondyear student in the Nurse Anesthesia Program, was awarded a Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarship. FULL-TIME Susan Cohen, DSN, APRN, associate pro fe ssor, Department of Health Promotion & Development Ellen Olshansky, DNSc, RNC, professor and chair, Department of Health & Community Systems PART-TIME Deirdre Bulian, MSN, CRNP , CCRN, OCN, instructor, Department of Acute & Tertiary Care Janine Dillon, MSN, instructor, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care Bonnie Keaveny, BSN, a second-year student in the Nurse Anesthesia Program, was selected from over 1,000 CRNAs nationally to serve as the student representative on the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Accreditation for 20022003. Kathy Lindell, MSN, BSN, a second-year student in the doctoral program, was named a member of the Board of Directors for the American Thoracic Society. Kelly Meno, BSN, a secondyear student in the Nurse Anesthesia Program, was elected as student representative to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists National Education Committee for 2002-2003. Ellen Olshansky, DNSc, RN, professor and chair, Department of Health and Community Systems, was named editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing. This journal is the official publication of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Elizabeth A. Schlenk, PhD, RN, assistant professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, received a grant award from the National Institute of Nursing Research for her study, "Improving Physical Activity and Fitness in Comorbidity." 4 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ON THE R OAD WI TH R O SANNA GA R T L E Y She may be in Pittsburgh one day, and in New York, West Virginia, or even out of the country the next day. Rosanna Gartley, MHS, RN, the new coordinator of recruitment for Student Services, is constantly on the run, talking with prospective students, both locally and nationally. “I have the privilege of speaking to middle-school students about the variety of career options in nursing,”says Gartley, who grew up in Canada and worked as a registered nurse. “I also speak to nurses who want to know more about our graduate programs. They are seldom disappointed with our numerous choices.” Gartley finds her job is made much easier because of the School of Nursing’s outstanding reputation. “No matter where I go, I hear great things about Pitt,” says Gartley, who is assisted by faculty, staff, and students at the School of Nursing. “Our School is highly regarded throughout the country, and I’m thrilled to be associated with it.” A P RACT I C AL WAY TO SPR EAD T HE WORD A BOUT “ PI TT NUR SIN G ” The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Alumni Society is pleased to offer “Pitt Nursing” tote bags for sale. The navy blue bags are crafted from durable duck cloth and are extremely roomy — 16" wide x 15" long. They bear the School’s seal in gold and are a real bargain at only $10 each! An order form can be downloaded from the School of Nursing web site at www.nursing.pitt.edu; then click on “Alumni & Friends”; or you may send a check (with ‘Tote Bag‚’ written on the memo line and made payable to the “University of Pittsburgh”) to: Joan Nock, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing; 218 Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; or call 412-624-0856 to place your order. Order several tote bags and show your “Pitt Nursing” spirit! Proceeds benefit student scholarly activities. 2002-2003 U N D E R G R A D U AT E SCHOLARSHIPS FRANK & ANNA MINNO SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN MEMORY OF THEIR DAUGHTER LT. COL. JULIA MINNO 200 2-200 3 GRA DUAT E SCHOLARSHIPS JEANNE SWINDELL WOLFE ORR ENDOWED FUND FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS Elizabeth Guydo ’04 + MASTER’S; ++ DOCTO R A L Theresa Seguin + ADENA JOHNSON DAVIS SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING KATHERINE C. AND JOHN W. CONWAY ENDOWED STUDENT NURSING AWARD Amy R. Riegel + Bethany Francis ’05 Monique McClinton ’05 Erin Kent ’03 BERYL B. HAUGHTON JAC K S O N E N D OWED FUND FOR GRADUAT E STUDENTS TO STUDY WO M E N ’ S H E A LT H ANNE J. PIERCE ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT RESOURCES LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT RESOURCES Gloria Brock ’03 ARMY ROTC PARTNERS IN NURSING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Chelsi Genday ’06 Lauren Skow ’06 Taura Palfreyman ’04 Evelyn Sue Lehman-Trzynka ++ BESSIE LI SZE SCHOLARSHIP Darrell Lis + Courtney Albright ’02 PIRATES ALUMNI AFRICAN-AMERICAN NURSING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Tovah Gordon ’05 ELAINE F. HAGERTY MEMORIAL NURSING STUDENT RESOURCES FUND REBECCA OLIVE MCKINNEY ENDOWED FUND FOR STUDENT RESOURCES Maureen Marianna ’03 Malgorzata Bujak ’05 ELIZABETH LUCAS & WILBUR J. CHAFFEE MEMORIAL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLAR’S AWARD THE STELLA YAKSICH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Kristin DiCola ’03 CAMEOS OF CARING ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Daniel P. Shearn + David A. Snyder + CORINNE M. BARNES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Yu-Yun Alice Hsu ++ DORIS E. AND DAVINA J. GOSNELL ENDOWED NURSING SCHOLARSHIP Elizabeth Ann Holmes ++ Kristin DiCola ’03 DOROTHY DRAKE BROOKS ENDOWMENT ELLEN B. RUDY SCHOLARSHIP FOR FUTURE NURSING LEADERS Joyce A. Gardner + ELIZABETH LLOYD NOROIAN SCHOLARSHIP Megan McCollum ’06 Bonita M. Keaveney + PITT NURSE WINTER 2003 5 PATRICIA P. LYNCH SCHOLARSHIP ROSE E. CONSTANTINO ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour ++ SZEMING SZE STUDENT AWARD Kawkab Shishani ++ FIRST PERSON BY MARY C OTHRAN Mary Cothran has grown professionally and personally as a result of her experience with cancer. “ ” Cancer was a test and a blessing. W H AT IS IT LIKE to “go through” the diagnosis and treatment of cancer? It’s a shock, a crisis/test of your coping skills, a learning experience, a readjustment of your values, and a blessing. I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in June at the age of . Since my mother died of breast cancer at and my sister died of Hodgkin’s at , I had spent most of my life fearful of cancer and had been getting annual mammograms since the age of . Most of my family had succumbed to one sort of cancer or another and no one had survived chemotherapy. No matter what I knew intellectually, a diagnosis of cancer meant I was dying from an emotional perspective. And no matter how many times I had imagined being diagnosed, it was still a tremendous shock. As a nurse, I had lots of information and many expert contacts that I could consult immediately for advice on surgeons and treatment options. One of my former Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) graduates was working with my oncologist and was an enormous help to me. As a nurse, I also knew all about the risks of metastatic disease and treatment complications. I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy and TRAM reconstruction, which is extensive surgery. Post-op, I had no choice but to be a “patient” patient as I was helpless and living alone. With one positive sentinel node, I needed chemotherapy, which terrified me. I cried all the way through my first oncology visit. For the first time in my life, I took medication to calm me and help me sleep. Chemotherapy was not nearly the ordeal I had imagined; slowly but surely I recovered my strength (and my hair). I was very fortunate to be located in a major medical center with coordinated and state-of-the-art care. My medical and nursing care were excellent. Surviving cancer is an enormous blessing. Life is very sweet now and I’ve grown much more patient with things I can’t control (and perhaps less patient with things I can!). Professionally, I have become interested in access to screening and treatment as well as concerned over the disparity in assistance for women in that first terrifying crisis phase. I wrote an article about survival tips that providers can suggest to their cancer patients. These include “small” things like first getting a notebook and writing everything down, lining up a social support system, preparation for surgery and chemotherapy, and avoiding complications such as infection and lymphedema. Personally, I’m so very appreciative of the help I received from friends and colleagues and my health care team. I am thankful for every day and more committed than ever to producing nurse practitioners and nurses who are the best providers of care possible. MARY M. COTHRAN, CRNP, RECEIVED A PHD DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING IN 1996. SHE SERVES AS COORDINATOR OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING’S ADULT / WO M E N ’ S HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS. 6 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH H OW P I T T I S I M PA C T I N G T H E O N C O L O G Y N U R S I N G F I E L D ONCOLOGY NURSING When President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer in 1971, the At the forefront in the war against cancer nation’s best and brightest scientific minds mobilized to eradicate are nurses. Oncology nurses play many key one of humanity’s most feared diseases. While cancer has proven to roles, be a tenacious adversary (cancer is currently the second leading research, education, and advocacy. And cause of death in the United States), there is growing cause for opti- many of the top players in the oncology mism. In recent years, preventive measures have saved thousands nursing field have a connection to the of lives. Cutting-edge research has led to numerous breakthroughs University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. in oncology clinical practice, contributing to higher survival rates for This special report of Pitt Nurse traces how many forms of cancer. Moreover, bio-engineered drugs are showing alumni, faculty, and students from the promise in treating certain forms of cancer and genetic markers School of Nursing are leading the way to a could one day map a way to a cure. Most encouraging, cancer is no victory over cancer. longer an automatic death sentence. Many cancers can be cured when detected early through screening. And when a cure is not an option, cancer is treated as a chronic disease. PITT NURSE WINTER 2003 7 including direct patient care, MOBILIZING THE FRONT LINES PITT ALUMNI PLAY KEY ROLES AT ONCOLOGY NURSING SOCIETY 8 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (BELOW) Pearl Moore helped co-found ONS and was instrumental in facilitating the construction of its new headquarters in Pittsburgh. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 PITT NURSE WINT ER 2003 9 (BELOW) At the Fourth Annual ONS Congress in 1979, Lisa Marino (Begg) (LEFT), first president of the Onocology Nursing Society, passes the gavel to then incoming president, Connie Henke (Yarbro). IT STA R T E D as a simple dream. In , a group of nurses began meeting informally around kitchen tables to share ideas about how to provide better care for patients with cancer. One of those nurses was Pearl Moore, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and cancer nurse specialist, who saw a need to marshal oncology nurses into a powerful national organization. “In the early ’, oncology nursing was emerging as a new specialty and doctors and nurses were still finding their way in the field,” recalls Moore (MN’, BSN ’). “It was obvious oncology nurses needed an organization that could provide them with support and networking opportunities.” From those humble beginnings, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has grown into the largest professional oncology society in the world. ONS now has , registered nurses and other health care professionals as members and more than chapters nationwide. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, ONS is dedicated to excellence in patient care, teaching, research, administration, and education in the field of oncology. According to Moore, ONS is seeking to lead the transformation of cancer care. “ONS is helping to inform oncology nurses about the latest in cancer management so they can provide better care for their patients,” says Moore, who is now chief executive officer of ONS. “To achieve that, we provide educational opportunities and collaborate with many nursing and health-related organizations throughout the world. Additionally, we pursue a health policy agenda to maintain cancer care as a priority issue with legislators and other policymakers.” Bridget Culhane (MSN ’, BSN ’), another alumna of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, has also played a key role at the senior level of the Oncology Nursing Society. As executive director of ONS, Culhane supervises the education, research, membership, leadership, and meeting services departments. In addition, she is responsible for health policy activities and works with contract lobbyists in Washington, D.C. Culhane says advocating for the highest quality of cancer care is perhaps one of the most important roles for ONS. “A major part of our job is to mobilize with other cancer organizations to gain more support from the government,” Culhane says. “That’s especially critical as our country experiences a serious nursing shortage and inadequate reimbursement threatens the well-being of outpatient cancer centers. If left unchecked, that could reverse all the progress oncology nurses have worked so hard to achieve during the past years. More than ever, oncology nurses are counting on ONS for resources and support.” * * * IT IS NO AC C I D E N T that ONS has hired so many graduates from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Pitt’s students have been mentored by some of the brightest minds in the oncology field. Furthermore, Pitt’s students are exposed to a wide variety of oncology settings during their clinical experiences. By the time they enter the job market, graduates of the School of Nursing are ready for almost any challenge they will encounter in the oncology field. In particular, three Pitt alumni are playing important roles at ONS. Michele McCorkle (MSN ’, BSN ’), a past recipient of the School of Nursing’s Bessie Li Sze Scholarship, has distinguished herself as an oncology nursing educator. McCorkle was a nurse educator at UPMC Montefiore and staff educator at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) before joining ONS in . Today, McCorkle serves as executive director of Oncology Education Services, Inc. (OES) – a CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 10 UN I VER SI TY O F P I TTS BU R GH MIRACLES Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark.”— Rabindranath Tagore Miracles? I believe in them! The first patient I cared for after I graduated from nursing school taught me that they do happen. She was a 30-year-old woman who had just been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. She had a three-year-old and a six-month-old daughter. Over the next few months, I saw her through her chemotherapy, monitored her side effects, and taught her husband how to perform central catheter care. I held her hand through the loneliness of separation from her daughters and rejoiced with her about every good lab and bone marrow result. Many times we would be crying and laughing at the same time. Our laughter truly turned to tears when she developed intracranial bleeding resulting in stroke symptoms. The battle seemed lost. She got the news of the poor prognosis and the need for hospice care. Months passed and the disease did not progress. In true heroic fashion, this wonderful lady set her sights on rehabilitation. She experienced some minor speech and cognitive deficits but was now able to care for her children. Time seemed the enemy now. I lost track of her when her husband’s job caused them to move to several different states over the next few years. Occasionally a postcard would arrive at the oncologist’s office letting us know of her whereabouts and how she was doing. We always posted them on our bulletin board as a form of inspiration to all of us. Sixteen years later, I found myself working at the same hospice that had cared for her so many years before. And then came the day I will never forget. She walked into my office and said, “Hi! Remember me? My husband and I are working here as volunteers!” Miracles do happen! MARY MURPHY, RN, MS, OCN® , ONCOLOGY NURSE, OHIO This excerpt is reprinted courtesy of the Oncology Nursing Society, from its book, Silver Linings: The Other Side of Cancer. PI TT N U RS E WINT ER 2003 11 “ More than ever, oncology nurses are counting on ONS for resources and support.” Bridget Culhane for-profit subsidiary of ONS that develops communications programs, products, and services for business and individuals working with oncology professionals. OES has a database of more than , non-ONS members, including nurses and pharmacists. “It is so rewarding to hear that our educational materials are helping nurses and other individuals to further their knowledge of cancer,” says McCorkle. “And I hear that constantly, from new, as well as veteran, nurses.” A former staff nurse and home health care nurse, Cynthia Miller Murphy (MSN ’) became director of education for ONS in . Murphy, who is currently the executive director of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), oversees the development of three examinations that certify nurses in cancer care. The OCN® Certification Exam is aimed at testing the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently at the basic level with the specialty of oncology nursing. The CPON® Certification Exam tests knowledge that is vital for an oncology nurse to function competently in a pediatric practice role. And the AOCN® Certification Exam tests knowledge that is vital for an oncology nurse to function competently in an advanced practice role. “Nursing certification is important because it assures the public that a certified nurse has completed all eligibility criteria to earn a specific credential,” Murphy points out. “Certification also demonstrates that a nurse is qualified to practice in a specific area of nursing. We are proud to note that more than , oncology nurses have been certified by ONCC.” Linda Worrall ( MSN ’) started her career as a staff nurse, then was hired as an education coordinator by ONS in . After serving as assistant director of education and director of education, Worrall was promoted to executive director of the ONS Foundation. A non-profit, tax-exempt organization, the ONS Foundation strives to generate financial resources to achieve the ONS mission of promoting excellence in cancer nursing and quality cancer care. Since its inception in , the ONS Foundation has distributed more than million in research grants, research fellowships, academic scholarships, lectures, public education projects, career development awards, and Congress scholarships. “I constantly get thank-you letters from nurses for helping them to get grants and scholarships,” says Worrall. “Often these individuals don’t have anywhere else to turn for financial resources so they can pursue research or finish school. It’s gratifying to give support to these nurses so they can further their careers.” * * * I N N OVATIONS IN THE FIELD of oncology are occurring at a remarkable pace. And ONS is poised to address many critical issues affecting oncology nursing in the coming years, Moore points out. “Advances in cancer genetics, gene therapy, molecular therapy, and supportive therapies will require oncology nurses to keep up with ongoing advances and to integrate this knowledge in their practice,” says Moore. “Oncology nurses will also need to develop the leadership skills necessary to thrive in this environment. ONS continues to develop programs 12 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (BELOW) ONS conferences spotlight the latest developments in the oncology nursing field. that provide oncology nurses with the resources they need to succeed in these fast-changing times.” Research will also continue to be an important priority at ONS. “Whereas other types of research are focused on finding a cure for cancer, the thrust of oncology nursing is symptom management,” Culhane explains. “It is significant to note that our foundation funds more nursing research than any other organization in the country, except for the government. Nursing research fills a gap that others don’t address, and we intend on continuing to provide the resources to make this possible.” In addition, ONS will seek ways to broaden its scope of continuing education programs. “With new technologies and methods of treatment, there will be a need to help prepare nurses to assume these roles, especially those nurses who work in outpatient settings,” Moore notes. “Distance learning will be an important way to educate nurses who live and work in remote areas of the country.” ONS has also launched an aggressive government relations program to make its voice better heard and recognized in national health care discussions. Legislation targets include providing prescription drugs for the nation’s seniors, ensuring access to clinical trials, protecting patients with cancer in managed health care plans, ensuring a well-educated and adequately compensated nursing workforce, and increasing the National Institutes of Health budget. “We are proud that ONS is frequently given a seat at the table when these discussions take place,” says Moore. “ONS is often invited to attend congressional meetings and panel discussions to give testimonies and briefs about nursing and oncology.” In order to accommodate its rapid growth, ONS recently moved into new headquarters, just minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport. The facility is eyecatching as well as spacious. Divided by an attractive glass atrium, the three-story building includes , square feet and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. Moore says the new headquarters reflect the progressive spirit that is so evident in all the staff who work for ONS. “This is a beautiful building in which to work, but more than anything else, it makes a real statement,” she says. “Cancer nursing is here to stay.” * * * THEY MAY NOT work on the front lines, but administrators and staff from ONS still feel as much a part in the war against cancer as direct care nurses. “While we aren’t providing direct patient care, we feel we are making an important difference in the lives of oncology nurses, and ultimately the lives of patients with cancer,” says Worrall. “That’s a very rewarding feeling.” Culhane adds that oncology nursing offers subtler rewards that can only be appreciated on a deeper level. “I often talk to our members who are out there in the trenches taking care of patients and they tell me they get as much back from their patients as they give,” she says. “I think we find our reward in knowing that we have helped and made a difference for patients and their families during one of the most devastating times in their lives. We learn so much from those patients and families about coping, about survival, and what’s important in life. They put things in perspective for us.” ■ PITT NURSE WINT ER 2003 13 ONCOLOGY TRAILBLAZER PITT’S ONCOLOGY NURSING PROGRAMS ANTICIPATING CHANGING NEEDS IN A GROWING FIELD TEN YEARS AG O , it was unusual to find a nurse practitioner specializing in oncology. But when cancer treatment started to shift to outpatient centers, demand began to increase for advanced practice nurses who could diagnosis and manage treatment plans for patients in outpatient settings. “Oncologists soon realized nurse practitioners were invaluable assets to their practice,” says Margaret Rosenzweig, PhD, RN, assistant professor and coordinator for the oncology emphasis in Pitt’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Program. “Oncology nurse practitioners proved to be important because they provide a supportive role during the entire cancer process. They facilitate and provide education, oversee pain and symptom management, monitor side effects, and coordinate care for patients and their families.” Recognizing that changing trends and demands in oncology nursing required advanced practice nurses with a master’s education, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing established one of the first oncology nurse practitioner (NP) programs in the country. Since its inception in , Pitt’s Oncology NP Program has introduced many of the standards now found in similar programs across the United States. “Our program is distinctive because courses are taught by practicing oncology nurse practitioners,” says Rosenzweig, who helped create Pitt’s Oncology NP Program. “The program also incorporates procedural training and has an acute care emphasis, which helps prepare clinicians for multi-faceted roles in today’s outpatient cancer setting.” Oncology NP students learn how to provide therapeutic inter ventions and assessment skills for cancer patients and their families. They also become familiar with symptom management strategies, such as chronic pain management. In addition, students learn how to perform bone marrow aspirate and biopsy procedures and lumbar punctures. What’s more, these students take research practicuums and have opportunities to collaborate in cutting-edge oncology research at the School of Nursing. The School of Nursing also offers a Clinical Nurse Specialist Program with an oncology emphasis, where students learn about program development, consultation, 14 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Catherine Bender sees many promising developments in the fight against cancer. and outcomes management. “Students can tailor their role to their career goals,” says Patricia Tuite, MSN, RN, co-coordinator of the program. “That’s especially beneficial for students because the field is so flexible and rapidly changing.” Because the School of Nursing is so highly regarded as a research-intensive environment, it is no surprise many of its doctoral students have participated in oncology nursing research studies. “Graduates of our doctoral program have assumed leadership positions nationally,” says Catherine Bender, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing who teaches a PhD research course and an assessment course for the RN Options Program. “They are conducting important research programs that improve the lives of patients with cancer.” Even if they eventually choose to pursue another area of nursing, Pitt’s undergraduate students enter the job market with a solid foundation in oncology nursing. An overview of cancer is presented at the sophomore level, while specific cancer information is presented as part of the junior year curriculum. Senior students learn about oncologic emergencies and transplantation, and those interested in pursuing a career in oncology nursing can opt to take a cancer elective. “No matter in which area of nursing our students choose to practice, it is important for them to be knowledgeable about cancer,” says Rosenzweig, who teaches an oncology course for undergraduate students. “This is particularly important because as the population contin- T UR NI N G T HE CORNE R ON C A N C E R “We are making dramatic strides in the war against cancer,” says Catherine Bender, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and a renowned oncology nurse researcher. “Since 1986, the numbers of cancer deaths have declined each year. We can attribute this progress to several cutting-edge developments that have taken place in the oncology field.” According to Bender, targeted therapies are getting attention because they stop or inhibit the growth of cancer cells with less damage to normal tissues. “Biotherapies harness the immune system’s own defense against cancer cells,” explains Bender. “There is the potential for better treatment with fewer side effects.” Genetics is also revolutionizing the way cancer is diagnosed and treated, Bender adds. “When researchers recently announced they had completed the human genome map, that represented probably the most exciting scientific advancement in centuries,” she says. “This could give us the ability to locate the mutations that cause cancer. If we can discover those mutations one by one, we could have the potential to prevent those mutations from turning into cancer, or to at least warn patients far enough in advance so they can make lifestyle changes that may help prevent cancer.” Certain cancers are responding better to new forms of treatment and early detection, Bender notes. “We have made tremendous progress in treating cancers of the breast and prostate, along with certain childhood leukemias. Many more patients are surviving cancer. And for those patients who can’t be cured, they may be able to manage their cancer like a chronic illness.” On the flip side, cancers of the pancreas, ovaries, and head and neck continue to claim many lives. And melanoma is the fastest growing – and one of the most lethal – cancers. Survival rates for these forms of cancer are often poor because, in many instances, these cancers are not diagnosed at an early stage. The bottom line? “We still have a ways to go in the war against cancer, but the outlook is improving every day,” says Bender. “Finally, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 PI TT N U RS E WINT ER 2003 15 PI TT CO ND UCTI N G CU TTIN G- ED GE O NC O LO G Y NUR S IN G RES EAR CH An explosion of nursing knowledge has driven many innovative advances in care for patients with cancer. And some of the most exciting oncology nursing research is taking place at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Collaborations with Pitt’s health sciences schools and a regional network of general and specialty University-based or affiliated hospitals, specialty clinics, and centers are providing the School’s nurse investigators and students with an opportunity to make an impact in the fight against cancer. Margaret Rosenzweig (pictured above) is one of several researchers addressing oncology issues. Here are the latest studies taking place at the School of Nursing. EASING SY M P TOM SEVERITY IN META S TATIC BREAST CANCER, M A R GARET ROSENZWEIG, PHD, RN PREVENTING DEPRESSION ASS O C I ATED WITH HIGH DOSE INTERFERON, CATHERINE BENDER, PHD, RN Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig’s research is focusing on interventions for improving Dr. Bender’s research focuses on cognitive function and depressed mood in symptom severity in metastatic breast cancer. She is also addressing the differ - patients with melanoma pre-treated with the antidepressant, mirtazapine, prior ential distress experienced by African American and low-income patient groups to receiving high-dose interferon therapy. Dr. Bender conducted previous studies with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Dr. Rosenzweig has conducted four previous examining cognitive function associated with cancer and cancer therapy, and studies evaluating demographics, incidence of specific symptoms, and impact quality of life in cancer and cancer therapy. of structured treatment in patients with MBC. This work illustrated the prevalence electronic database of over 200 women with metastatic breast cancer. The A U G M E N TATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES FOR HEAD-ANDNECK CANCER PATIENTS, MARY BETH HAPP, PHD, RN database is used for retrospective chart review as well as pilot data for funding Dr. Happ’s research is testing an augmentative communication (AC) device that of symptoms and associated distress in a MBC population. She maintains an applications. could help improve the quality of life for non-vocal head-and-neck cancer patients and patients who are mechanically ventilated in the intensive care unit. M E N O PAUSAL SY M P TOM RELIEF FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST CA N C E R , SUSAN COHEN, PHD, RN Dr. Cohen is investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture to reduce the se verity of menopausal symptoms in women who have breast cancer. This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study could open the door for a safer alternative for treating symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, insomnia, and nervousness (See story on page 20). Dr. Cohen conducted a previous study examining the effectiveness of the herb, black cohosh, in providing menopausal relief as well as exploration of adjustment after hysterectomy. 16 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH “ PITT STANDS POISED TO ADDRESS MANY FASTBREAKING CHANGES IN THE ONCOLOGY FIELD.” ues to age, more people become susceptible to getting cancer. As a result, nurses working in all types of specialties will have to deal with cancer in some form or another.” For graduate and undergraduate students alike, clinical experiences enable application of knowledge gained in the classroom. A variety of hospitals and clinics in the Pittsburgh area and the surrounding region provide excellent clinical venues. UPMC Cancer Centers encompass patient care programs, each focusing on a specific type of cancer treatment. These include a world-renowned melanoma institute, as well as centers devoted to brain cancers, breast cancer, colon and gastrointestinal cancers, head-and-neck cancers, leukemia and lymphomas, liver cancer, lung cancer, gynecologic cancers, pediatric cancers, prostate and urologic cancers, and stem cell transplants. UPMC Cancer Centers offer patients the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment at numerous locations throughout the tri-state region. In addition, students from the School of Nursing gain significant clinical experience at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), which has been designat ed as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Located in the new Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside community, UPCI provides comprehensive, integrated patient services related to prevention and early detection, nutrition, education, genetic counseling, and behavioral medicine. The Hillman Cancer Center also houses a nationally renowned research program. Other clinical experiences in oncology are available at the West Penn-Allegheny Health System, Mercy Hospital Cancer Centers, regional community hospitals, and oncologists’ offices. “These clinical experiences are invaluable for our students because they integrate didactic information into patient care,” adds Rosenzweig, who coordinates oncology clinical practicums for undergraduate students and maintains a clinical practice at PITT NURSE W IN T ER 2 00 3 17 UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital’s Breast Cancer Program. “The clinical facilities view our students as well-prepared, knowledgeable, and holistic in their approach to providing care for cancer patients and their families.” Upon graduation, the School of Nursing’s students are in demand at hospitals, outpatient clinics, and offices throughout western Pennsylvania and the country. “Because our School continues to incorporate the latest cancer knowledge and treatment options, along with advances in general medical-surgical nursing as it relates to an oncology context, our undergraduate students enter the field with extremely marketable skills,” says Rosenzweig. “And our nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist graduates are well-prepared for advanced practice roles in diverse settings.” Pitt stands poised to address many fast-breaking changes in the oncology field, says Jacqueline DunbarJacob, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. “Nursing must incorporate recent discoveries into patient management and education,” she says. “The School’s interactions and collaborations with many of the investigators who are making cutting-edge discoveries puts us in a position to offer invaluable research and clinical care experiences to our students.” ■ CAMEOS OF CARING SPOTLIGHT ON NURSING Fourth Annual Cameos of Caring Awards Gala Honors Nursing’s Finest IT WAS THE SCHOOL OF NURSING’S biggest Cameos of Caring event yet. More than guests attended the fourth annual Cameos of Caring Awards Gala at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel on October , . This year, nurses, representing western Pennsylvania hospitals, were honored for distinguishing themselves as clinicians, patient and family advocates, and role models for the profession of nursing. In addition to honoring bedside nurses, the Cameos of Caring Awards Gala recognized five advanced practice nurses who provide patient care. More than , was raised to benefit an endowment providing financial assistance to RNs who want to advance their education. This also marked the first year that Cameos of Caring Endowed Scholarships were awarded. Among those nurses honored last fall were seven alumni from the School of Nursing, including: Michael Estatico, St. Clair Hospital, BSN ’; Tracy Grogan, UPMC Presbyterian, BSN ’; Colleen Paul, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, BSN ’, MSN ’ (currently enrolled in the School’s PhD program); Mary Kay Rahuba, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, MSN ’; Lauren Saul, UPMC Shadyside, BSN ’; Denise Stahl, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Health System, MSN ’; and Carol Whitehead, UPMC Presbyterian, BSN ’. Two other School of Nursing alumni also played prominent roles in the Cameos of Caring Gala. Helen Kissell Burns (MN ’, PhD ’), deputy secretary for Health Planning and Assessment at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, served as mistress of ceremonies. Judith Strellec Charlson (BSN ’) created the glass statuettes that were awarded to each Cameos recipient. LOOK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2003 CAMEOS OF CARING AWARDS GALA IN THE SUMMER 2003 ISSUE OF PITT NURSE. 18 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCH OOL OF N UR SING RE CEI VES AWA RD FO R IN NOVATIO N I N H UMA N RE SOU RC ES Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, dean, with Helen Kissell Burns, mistress of ceremonies. It was a matter of knowledge and of labor. It was a matter of compassion and of determination. And it was a matter of efficiency and of innovation. Therefore, it was only a matter of time until the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing received the prestigious “People Do Matter” Award, presented by Workforce Connections at the Pennsylvania Economy League, Western Division. On October 2, 2002, the School of Nursing was recognized for “Outstanding People Practices” based on its creation and implementation of the Cameos of Caring Awards Program, a human resources strategy that attracts and retains a diverse, talented workforce. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Business Times, the People Do Matter Award celebrates the success of regional employers in the area of human resources. Recipients are selected on the basis of their use of sophisticated techniques regarding motivation and encouragement that affects the way their employees as a collective unit, learn, produce, and thrive in the vastly growing economy of the 21st century. 2002 CAMEOS OF CARING AWA R D E E S B E D SI D E N U R S I N G Bob Myers, RN Dolores Sulick, RN , BSN, MEd Beth Griffith, RN A DVA N CE D P R A CT I C E AWA R D E E S St. Francis Hospital of New UPMC South Side West Penn Allegheny Health A WA R D E E S Judith A. Walter, RN, OCN Castle Armstrong County Memorial Sheila Paul, RN Hospital St. Francis Medical Center Sandra Rudert, RN Judy Koontz, RN VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Children’s Hospital of UPMC Bedford Memorial System—Highland Drive Audrey Kaplack, RN Heritage Valley Health System—Sewickley Valley Hospital Barbara L. Edling, RN Heritage Valley Health System - The Medical Center, Beaver Nancy K. Figel Cardinale, RN Valerie Hart, RN UPMC Braddock Sheila E. Buchanan, RN, BSN, CCRN UPMC Horizon Jeanne Burns Conkle, RN UPMC Lee Regional Barbara Mills, RN UPMC McKeesport Hospital UPMC St. Margaret Christine Madden, RN, CCRN Pittsburgh System—Forbes Regional Rebecca A. Venesky, RN Carole D. Barnes, RN VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System—Heinz Division Sharon Marciniak, RN VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System—University Drive Laura Lowman, RN West Penn Allegheny Health Hospital Kathleen Bryte, RN, OCN Betty J. Bianculli, RN Barbara J. Harrity, RN Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Passavant West Penn Allegheny Health MSN, CEN System Michael Estatico, RN Andrew Thomas, RN, ONC UPMC Shadyside Center Sheryl Bowers, RN West Penn Allegheny Health System—Canonsburg General Hospital St. Clair Hospital WINTER 2003 UPMC Health System Jennifer M. Barrick, RN Westmoreland Health System—Frick Hospital Barbara Liptak, RN, CCRN System—Alle-Kiski Medical PI TT N U R S E West Penn Allegheny Health and Clinic UPMC Northwest Pittsburgh Mercy Health Magee-Womens Hospital of Western Psychiatric Institute Division 19 Denise Stahl, RN , MSN Joan G. Black, RN MSN, CPNP Center UPMC Presbyterian Center, Beaver Mary Kay Rahuba, RN , BSN, System—Allegheny General Michele Buraczewski, RN System—Suburban General Pennsylvania Hospital Carol Melnick, RN Carol Vacsulka Whitehead, RN Heritage Valley Health System—The Medical System—The Western Jefferson Regional Medical UPMC Health System Kathy Larkin, RN West Penn Allegheny Health Hospital Division Diana Lynn Stewart, RN, BSN, MSN Westmoreland Health System—Westmoreland Regional Hospital Tracy Grogan, RN, BSN, MEd, CCRN UPMC Presbyterian Lauren Saul, RN, MSN UPMC Shadyside Colleen Paul, RN, BSN, MSN VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System—University Drive Division CUTTING EDGE NEEDLE RELIEF S T U DY COULD EASE M E N O PA U S A L SY M P TOMS FO R BREAST CA N C E R S U R V I VO R S 20 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBUR GH Acupuncture releases hormones that influence the body’s self-regulating systems. “RELAX,” THE ACUPUNCTURIST said as she wiped Kathy’s skin with an alcohol swab. “You might just feel a tiny pinprick.” Lying on a padded table with her arms folded over her abdomen, Kathy (not her real name) glanced up and nodded. Kathy’s acupuncturist began gently inserting needles into her arms, legs, and abdomen. After a few minutes, the acupuncturist placed the last needle into the tip of Kathy’s right big toe. “That should do it. How do you feel?” “Very relaxed,” Kathy sighed. “I still have a slight trace of a headache, though.” The acupuncturist leaned over Kathy and slightly rotated a two-inch, fine needle that protruded from the depression between Kathy’s index finger and thumb. “That should help unblock your pain,” the acupuncturist said. “This point is on the liver meridian and is said to relieve pain and quiet the spirit.” Taking a deep breath, Kathy closed her eyes and smiled. “Yes, that feels much better.” Kathy, a Stage I breast cancer survivor, is probably one of acupuncture’s most unlikely proponents. “I was always a little squeamish around needles,” Kathy said, after her treatment was completed minutes later. “And I never took alternative medicine that seriously. But, after I learned acupuncture was safe and could relieve menopausal symptoms without harmful side effects, I decided to give it a try.” The results have been dramatic, Kathy added. “Before I joined this study and took acupuncture, I often experienced hot flashes every hour or so, along with bouts of insomnia and night sweats. Now, I feel like my old self again.” Kathy is one of women who are taking part in a ground-breaking study investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture to reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms in women who have breast cancer. The study is being conducted by Susan Cohen, DSN, APRN, associate professor in the School of Nursing’s Department of Health Promotion and Development. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, Cohen’s randomized, placebocontrolled clinical study could open the door for a safer alternative for treating symptoms of menopause. “For years, Western medicine has used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the primary form of treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety,” Cohen says. “However, recent studies show that estrogen increases the risk of uterine cancer, and that estrogen combined with progestin increases the risk of breast cancer. There is also a heightened risk for women who are breast cancer survivors.” For Cohen, alternative therapies seemed like a much safer way to treat bothersome physical complaints in menopausal women. Cohen, who has worked with menopausal women as both a researcher and family nurse practitioner, became interested in alternative therapies in the early ’ after reading about studies conducted in Sweden. European researchers reported some success in using acupuncture to treat various ailments, including menopausal symptoms. “Western health care practitioners have only recently begun to discover what Asian practitioners have known for thousands of years,” says Cohen. “Acupuncture really does provide relief for many physical complaints.” According to Cohen, acupuncture points are thought to stimulate the nervous system and release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture also releases hormones that influence the body’s self-regulating systems. Among other conditions, acupuncture has been used to treat allergies, arthritis, migraines, and head-and-neck pain. Cohen also saw acupuncture as a possible remedy for treating menopausal symptoms. “Even though the Chinese don’t view the systems of the body in quite the same way as in the West, they strongly believe acupuncture does affect the hormonal system,” Cohen says. “Traditional Chinese Medicine contends acupuncture and Chinese herbs help restore balance in the body, helping to dissipate menopausal symptoms in a few months.” In , Cohen launched two pilot studies to explore alternative therapies for treating menopausal symptoms. One study tracked the effectiveness of the herb, black eohosh, in controlling hot flashes. Women reported a greater than % decrease in hot flash severity during the study. Cohen also conducted one of the first studies in the United States to explore acupuncture’s effectiveness in alleviating hot flashes, insomnia, and nervousness. During the course of acupuncture treatment, hot flashes decreased by % and insomnia decreased by %. A follow-up study revealed hot flashes significantly decreased in the acupuncture group, compared to the usual care group. Cohen’s current study involves a larger group of participants. She will use a threegroup design (site specific needling, control needling, and usual care) throughout her study. All acupuncture sessions will take place at the Center for Complementary Medicine in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside section. Twelve acupuncture treatments will take the form of either menopausal specific acupuncture sites or control needling at acupuncture points. The non-acupuncture group will receive usual care with standardized educational sessions of information drawn from published literature concerning non-hormonal menopausal symptom management strategies. After each group completes an acupuncture or educational session, saliva samples will be collected to measure levels of cortisone – a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in response to any kind of physical or psychological stress. Decreases in cortisol levels will indicate that acupuncture produces a relaxation effect. Cohen says there is little risk for subjects participating in her study. “The acupuncture needles are sterile and are used only once,” she notes. “Because the needles are small and very fine, there is only a slight risk of pain on insertion. Once the acupuncturist withdraws the needles, subjects may bleed a drop of blood, which the acupuncturist will promptly clean with a sterile cotton ball.” Eventually, Cohen hopes to conduct another study comparing the effectiveness of acupuncture, meditation, and exercise for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Further testing will help explain the role relaxation plays in symptom management. By examining additional forms of relaxation-inducing strategies, Cohen may be able to recommend other ways to reduce menopausal symptoms. Says Cohen: “We hope these studies will not only help menopausal women find safer solutions for troublesome physical complaints, but also enable them to enjoy a higher quality of life.” ■ PITT NURSE WINTER 2003 21 A LU M N I S N A P S H O T JOAN S UCH L OCKHART TOUCHING THE SOUL OF NURSING TAKE ONE OF Joan Such Lockhart’s courses or seminars, and you will come away with a slightly different perspective about how to provide optimal nursing care for patients with cancer. “I try to emphasize caring for the soul or spirit,” says Lockhart, a three-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing (BSN ’, MNEd ’, PhD ’) and graduate of the Presbyterian-University Hospital School of Nursing, who is currently professor and associate dean for academic affairs at the Duquesne University School of Nursing. “Oncology nurses need to consider not only the patient’s physical needs, but also their emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs. My personal experiences as a caregiver for my own family members have helped me realize how important it is for nurses to understand the meaning and impact of one’s illness and treatment on the patient and family’s entire life. As a result, I stress a holistic approach to oncology care that encompasses multiple dimensions.” Throughout her -year career, Lockhart has made a huge impact in the holistic development of oncology nurses, both in this country and throughout the world. Lockhart takes special pride in a nurse-managed community-based breast and cervical cancer health program she helped develop with her Duquesne colleague and Pitt alumna, Leah Vota Cunningham (MNEd ’), along with faculty from Duquesne’s Sister School of Nursing at Universidad Politechnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) in Managua, Nicaragua. In , after participating in a 22 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Joan Lockhart is helping Nicaraguan nurses to improve cancer care in their country. team-taught cancer nursing course for a group of nurses employed by the Nicaraguan Health Ministry, Lockhart saw an opportunity to make a contribution to the global cancer community. “In a developing country like Nicaragua, where health care resources are limited, nurses can play an essential role in helping individuals learn how to prevent cancer, reduce risk factors, and to seek help early so that cancer treatment may be more successful and less extensive,” says Lockhart. “But before we could help our Nicaraguan nursing colleagues make changes in the way they provide health care, we needed to understand the barriers Nicaraguan women face in screening activities and the obstacles that our Nicaraguan nurse colleagues encounter in helping women at risk for cancer. We felt that if we could collect data to validate these issues, we could present a stronger case to the Nicaraguan Health Ministry and funding agencies to support our collaborative ideas regarding early detection efforts.” In , Lockhart and her colleagues from Pittsburgh, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua interviewed over Nicaraguan women to learn how they perceived breast and cervical cancer and screening efforts. The study, funded by the Oncology Nursing Foundation, demonstrated that very few women were aware of, or participating in, any cancer screening activities. These women were also unaware of facts about cancer or their risk of developing cancer. However, these women expressed great interest in taking part in screening if given the opportunity and if advised by a nurse or physician. That information helped Lockhart and her colleagues design a major breast and cervical cancer health and screening program, implemented through the Nursing Academic Center for Community Health, and developed and operated by UPOLI School of Nursing faculty within the barrio. With funding from the A . J . Palumbo and Sigismunda Charitable Trust and the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation, Lockhart and her colleagues started a new project in that is aimed at helping UPOLI faculty and other Nicaraguan nurses develop as leaders in implementing a breast and cervical cancer-screening program for over high-risk Nicaraguan women living in the barrio of Villa Libertad Annex in Managua. The project is a collaborative effort, teaming Lockhart and Cunningham with Nicaraguan nurses and physicians. “We are trying to help our Nicaraguan nurse colleagues develop and strengthen specific competencies so they can develop sustainable programs aimed to improve cancer care in their own country,” says Lockhart, who, along with Cunningham, helped UPOLI faculty develop “Once nurses get to know a patient as a person, they tend to get beyond their appearance. And once that happens, nurses can become better caregivers.” an undergraduate curriculum through a United States Information Service (USIS) Academic Specialist Grant. Lockhart and Cunningham also participated in a larger United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project that extended this work to six Nicaraguan schools of nursing, integrating key women’s health issues identified by the Nicaraguan Health Ministry. The new nursing program that resulted from these projects provided a solid foundation upon which UPOLI faculty were able to develop one of the first graduate nursing programs in Nicaragua. This approach enabled UPOLI faculty to assume an ongoing leadership role for nursing education within the country of Nicaragua. Lockhart has learned that sometimes nurses need to become aware of their own perceptions and may need to overcome negative reactions before they can become better caregivers. She has conducted several studies examining how nurses and student nurses perceive patients who are disfigured as a result of surgery for head-and-neck cancer. “While working as a nurse and staff educator on a head-and-neck surgical unit for several years, I observed that many nurses who were new to the head-and-neck oncology unit often felt uncomfortable or fearful when working with patients who had facial disfigurement following cancer surgery,” Lockhart says. “Sometimes their negative perceptions seemed to influence the quantity and/or quality of nursing care they provided for these patients, or even discouraged some new nurses from working in the head-and-neck cancer unit. It appeared, with support and guidance from another experienced nurse, that many nurses were more effectively able to care for this patient population, and, in fact, received a great deal of satisfaction working as a nurse in this unit.” During the early stages of her research, Lockhart confirmed something she already suspected: people often make snap judgments about other people as a result of their physical appearance. “Because head-and-neck cancer often spreads to the neck area, most of these patients have surgery in the face and neck region,” says Lockhart. “That can radically change their appearance. What’s more, the surgical treatment for this type of cancer often requires that nurses help patients who are coping post-operatively with changes in their breathing, swallowing, and speech. All of these issues have the potential to make a nurse feel uncomfortable about working with patients who have experienced head-and-neck cancer surgery.” Since she began this area of research in , Lockhart has conducted several studies dealing with perceptions that nurses and nursing students have about the severity of facial disfigurement in both male and female patients after surgery for head-and-neck cancer. The studies suggest the importance of guidance and support by an experienced nurse when nurses first begin working in a head-and-neck unit, and suggest considering the severity of the patient’s disfigurement when first assigning a new nurse or student nurse to this type of surgical patient. Lockhart’s work also questions possible differences in care provided to female patients as compared with male patients. “It’s helpful for nurses new to head-and-neck units to talk about their feelings,” says Lockhart, who was recently inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing. “With the proper support and guidance, nurses seem to adjust better to working with patients who are disfigured. Once nurses get to know a patient as a person, they tend to get beyond their appearance. And once that happens, nurses can become better caregivers.”■ PI TT N U R S E W IN T ER 2 00 3 23 STUDENT SNAPSHOT MONICA TROETSCHEL FIGHTING CANCER WITH COMPA SS I O N E ACH OF Monica Troetschel’s oncology patients has touched her life in a poignant way. But an encounter with one dying patient deepened Troetschel’s resolve even further to provide the most compassionate care possible until a cure is found for cancer. “Nearly three years ago, I was working on a clinical trial with a patient who was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer,” says Troetschel, who will complete her MSN degree this spring at the School of Nursing. “Unfortunately, the patient’s cancer spread to her liver and her prognosis was very poor. One of that patient’s last wishes was to take a final trip to Florida with her boyfriend. I called the sponsor of the study and the treating physician for approval in delaying the treatment, which made the trip possible. 24 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH The new Hillman Cancer Center houses a nationally renowned oncology research program. Not long after that trip, the patient died, and her boyfriend wrote me a beautiful thank you note. I was particularly touched by his words: ‘We believe you are a gift from God and you shall remain forever in our hearts.’ That meant a lot to me and reminded me that although I may not always be successful in helping patients beat cancer, I am making a difference in their lives.” It was a desire to help better people’s lives that initially attracted Troetschel to the nursing profession. After receiving a BSN degree from Carlow College in 1987, Troetschel worked at as a research nurse at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) before joining UPMC Presbyterian, where she worked as a staff nurse, radiation oncology nurse, and research oncology coordinator. Troetschel was introduced to the world of clinical trials by working with a physician at UPMC Presbyterian who was part of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project. “Research interested me because it offered an opportunity to collaborate with physicians, nurses, technicians, pharmaceutical companies, and patients,” says Troetschel. “It intrigued me to be part of a team that was driving many innovative advances in patient care.” Enticed by opportunities in oncology research, Troetschel worked as an outreach educator and information specialist at UPCI and as a research nurse at Allegheny General Hospital, before becoming a clinical research coordinator at UPCI, a position she has held for over two years. A recognized leader in providing innovative cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, UPCI is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Last September, UPCI opened a state-of-the-art facility in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside section that encompasses separate research and treatment pavilions. “UPCI is a fascinating place to work, because it includes many multi-disciplinary roles, including treatment, research, education, nutritional support, and behavioral medicine,” Troetschel notes. “This has broadened my exposure to virtually every aspect of patient care.” As a clinical research coordinator, Troetschel works with Phase I clinical trials to test the effectiveness of new medications not yet approved by the FDA. “Phase I trials involve cancers that have metastasized, such as breast, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers,” Troetschel says. “We work with a small group of end-stage patients who have exhausted all other treatment options.” Troetschel’s role at UPCI is multi-faceted and gives her an opportunity to interact with researchers, physicians, government agencies, funding organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and patients and their families. She helps researchers screen potential subjects for clinical trials, arranges tests, and reviews results to determine whether a patient is eligible to participate in a study. If patients meet the required protocol, Troetschel explains the risks and benefits of a new treatment, as outlined in an informed consent document. “Some patients don’t want to be a guinea pig for an unknown treatment and decline to participate in the study,” says Troetschel. “But many patients feel they have nothing to lose and are willing to explore any available options that might help them. And there are other patients who realistically realize their chances of survival are slim, but who hope their participation in research may eventually benefit other patients.” Once a patient is enrolled in clinical trials, Troetschel collects data that helps researchers evaluate a drug’s safety, establish a safe dosage, and identify side effects. “While I’m not involved in direct patient care, I still have considerable interaction with the patient,” says Troetschel. “I serve as a liaison between the patient and the research team. I also help the patient adhere to the treatment plan and make sure that the physician is treating the patient according to the clinical trial protocols.” An upbeat person with a cheerful smile, Troetschel firmly believes significant progress is being made in the fight against cancer. However, she acknowledges that most PI TT NU R S E WINTER 2003 25 “Research interested me because it offered an opportunity to collaborate with physicians, nurses, technicians, pharmaceutical companies, and patients.” of her patients will not survive for a lengthy period of time. And that realization can be disheartening at times. “It’s often frustrating because not many drugs make it through clinical trials,” explains Troetschel. “During my nine years in cancer research, I have only worked with four drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Nonetheless, we have been encouraged with early results for some new drugs. Oxaliplatin shows promise in treating metastatic colon cancer, while Gleevec may have potential for treating brain tumors and other types of cancer.” Even when medication can’t cure cancer, Troetschel adds, it can make life a little more bearable for terminally ill patients who are in great pain. “In oncology, we are very liberal with pain medication,” says Troetschel. “You aren’t worried that end-stage patients will become addicted to medication. If anything, we will do whatever it takes to help ease suffering for those individuals.” While research offers Troetschel many opportunities to utilize her nursing skills, she eventually hopes to work as an oncology nurse practitioner. “I’m looking forward to returning to direct patient care,” says Troetschel, who is enrolled in Pitt’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program with an oncology specialty. “I think my background in research will give me a different perspective in providing patient care. I also hope to collaborate with physicians in other research studies.” No matter which role Troetschel assumes in the fight against cancer, she is determined to help eradicate, or at least alleviate, suffering for oncology patients and their families. “We’re getting closer to many breakthroughs,” says Troetschel. “Cancer is no longer an automatic death sentence. Before long, if not already, cancer will be viewed as a chronic disease. And that will give hope to many people.”■ D E V E LO PM E N T NE W S School of Nursing Extends Capital Campaign Goal The University of Pittsburgh enjoyed such a resounding success in surpassing its $500 million, six-year fundraising goal a year-and-a-half early, that it extended its Capital Campaign to 2007. Pitt plans to raise more than $1 billion by the conclusion of this extension. Concurrently, the School of Nursing has raised $4.5 million or 53% of its goal, and expects to raise $8.5 million by the end of the campaign. The School of Nursing extends a heartfelt thanks to all alumni and friends who are making the Capital Campaign such a huge success. For the second phase of its Capital Campaign, the School of Nursing has established new priorities to attract additional alumni support and develop new relationships with interested friends, corporations, foundations, and organizations. Working together, we will meet our goal! This will make a difference in the delivery of today’s health care by advancing the nursing profession and helping to alleviate the national nursing shortage. ● Endowed scholarships targeted for graduate studies and focused on traditionally under-represented indi viduals ● Building support projects including: Doctoral Student, Living and Learning, and Clinical Nursing Research Centers ● Naming opportunities including: Center for Nursing Research, Center for Research in Chronic Disorders, Simulation Center for Nurse Anesthesia Program, Clinical Nursing Research Center, and Doctoral Student Center ● Endowed Chairs for Chronic Disorders and Oncology ● Center of Nursing Excellence for Continuing Education ● New programs: Second Degree and BSN to PhD IF YOU WOU LD LIKE TO M AKE A G IFT TO TH E E X P E C TATI ON S FOR TH ES E P RI ORI TI ES U NIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH S CHOOL OF NU RSING, PLEASE CONTACT MARY RODGERS SCHUBERT, MPM, RN, D I R E CTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, AT (412) 624-0 856 OR VIA E-MAIL AT MSCHUB ER@PITT. E D U . NE W P RI ORIT IE S ● Aid in the recruitment of research faculty, which will increase funding from NIH to the School and maintain our high ranking ● Enhance the diversity of the undergraduate and graduate programs by providing scholarships to attract traditionally under-represented students ● Allow the School to graduate highly-competent professional nurses who will contribute to and offer leadership in the profession ● Enrich the pool of nursing faculty by graduating nurses prepared to enter the academic environment ● Advance scientific knowledge, which will enrich the nursing profession by preparing competent nurse researchers ● Enhance the infrastructure of the School, which will support and promote academic excellence H O W YO U CAN HE LP ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Gifts of cash, check, or credit card Gifts of stock Gifts of other assets Planned giving Matching gifts Memorial gifts Unrestricted gifts Gifts and pledges Class gifts 26 U N IV E RS I TY OF P IT T SB UR GH ALUMNI NEWS + N OT E S U PC OMIN G EV EN TS NUR S ING HO RIZO NS 20 0 3 “Explorations in Healthcare” March 7, 2003 Victoria Building DR . CO RI NN E M. BA R NE S ME M O RIA L SE RVI CE March 31, 2003 Heinz Chapel – 2:30 p.m. Reception following at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association Nursing Alumni Society President’s Message P H A R M AC O LO GY C ON FE RE NC E April 4-5, 2003 Victoria Building AT ITS ANNUAL SUMMER RETREAT in August, the Nursing Alumni Society Executive Committee set an impressive list of initiatives on which to focus its efforts for the - academic year. I’m pleased to announce as the second half of the year gets underway, we remain on course to attain these goals. Our Poinsettia Sale, which ran through the month of November, was our most successful fundraiser to date. Through the support of alumni, faculty, staff, and students, significant scholarship monies have been raised. Additionally, our tote bag sale is off to a great start. A warm ‘thank you’ to all who enthusiastically support Nursing Alumni Society projects! The Executive Committee is working with the School’s Development Office to launch a “Class Gift” Program, an ideal opportunity for alumni to enhance the educational experience of nursing students. Classes celebrating reunions will be contacted to lead this worthwhile endeavor. Plans are in full swing for Alumni Day set for Saturday, May , at the Petersen Events Center. I look forward to personally congratulating fellow alumni who are celebrating milestone reunions and welcoming all School of Nursing alumni. What a wonderful opportunity to come together in celebration of Pitt Nursing! This marks my final message as president of the Nursing Alumni Society Executive Committee. It has been a personal privilege to serve on behalf of University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing alumni. I look forward to working with Gloria Gotaskie BSN ’, MSN ’, who will officially assume presidential duties in May, and sincerely thank you for your support. PINNING April 25, 2003 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall G R A D U AT E ST U D EN T B RU NCH April 27, 2003 Omni William Penn Ballroom – 9:00 a.m. G R A D U AT I O N April 27, 2003 Petersen Events Center A LU M NI DAY 20 0 3 “Building the Future Together!” May 3, 2003 Petersen Events Center RE TI R EM E NT R EC EPT IO NS Spring, 2003 Dr. Patricia Bohachick and Dr. Barbara Spier TO RSVP FOR AN EVENT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT JENNIFER WHITEHURST AT (412) 624-5328 OR VIA E-MAIL AT JMW100@PITT.EDU. J OA N G O DI CH , B S N ’ 9 7 P R E SI D EN T PI TT N UR S E WI N TE R 20 03 27 A L U M N I N E W S + N OT E S 1950’s 1980’s Dr. Fay Carol Reed, BSNEd ’58, MLitt ’60, a retired former profes- Linda Fowler, DrPH, MPH, BSN ’83, has been named the admin- sor of the University of Cincinnati, recently published a book, istrator of Charles M. Morris Nursing Center at the Jewish Suffering and Illness: Insights for Caregivers. The book identi- Association on Aging. Dr. Fowler also continues to be a legal fies common characteristics of suffering, proposes a model of nurse consultant and provides defense and plaintiff expert tes- suffering, and furnishes guidance for the care of sufferers. timony focused primarily on the care and treatment of the elderly in a nursing home environment. 1960’s Linda Phillips, PhD, MN ’72, BSN ’69, FAAN , professor and associate dean for research at the University of Arizona School of Nursing, was the featured speaker for the Founders’ Day Dena Sutermaster, BSN ’84, MSN ’92, was appointed director of education/research for the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association in August 2002. Susan Simpson Ely, MSN ’87, was the recipient of a Magee- Celebration in November 2002, co-sponsored by the School’s Eta Womens Hospital Source of Life Award for Health Care. Susan Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau. Her presentation addressed her clin- is a collaborative practice nurse for Dr. Ronald Johnson, Magee- ical interests and extensive program of research pertaining to Womens Surgical Associates. the dynamics and cultural aspects of family caregiving and home care, including elder abuse in institutions and home settings. Dr. Phillips is chair of the NINR Initial Review Committee. 1970’s Elizabeth A. Sebek Scoumis, BSN ’88, co-authored “American College of Radiology White Paper on MR Safety,” published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, June 2002. 1990’s Cynthia Lann, MN ’72, has worked as the inpatient and ER Lori Ann Tony, BSN ’95, accepted a Clinical Nurse II master’s- nurse manager at North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem, MA level position at Johns Hopkins Hospital cardiac surgery for 26 years. intensive care unit in October 2002. Carol Caliendo, ND, MSN, BSN ’75, CNM, CRNP, professor of nurs- Barbara Broome, PhD ’97, was recently named assistant dean of ing at Carlow College and project director, BSN Recruitment and the University of South Alabama College of Nursing, Baldwin Retention, is the recipient of a three-year grant from the Division County campus. of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions (HHS), for increasing the number of BSN-prepared nurses in the Western Pennsylvania workforce. In 2000, she earned her nursing doctorate at Case Western Reserve University. Joan Such Lockhart, PhD ’92, MNEd ’79, BSN ’76, CORLN, professor and associate dean at Duquesne University School of Nursing, has received a 2002 ONS Foundation Public Education Project Award. The award acknowledges her work to enhance 2000’s Melissa Liberto, BSN ’01, was promoted to professional staff nurse at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Ottavia Viana Scardigno, BSN ’01, is currently working as a fulltime registered nurse at a surgery center in New Jersey. She plans to attend graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. the public’s knowledge and awareness of cancer prevention, Alice Serenyi, BSN ’01, was promoted to professional staff nurse detection, and treatment modalities for her project, “Taking con- at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. trol of cancer: A cancer prevention and detection educational program for elderly African Americans residing in an urban community dwelling.” Joan was also inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in November 2002. Anne Meng, MN ’76, CPNP, RN, C , assistant professor of nursing Grace Duling, BSN ’02, a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, competes in marathons across the country to help raise funds for the Society. Grace recently completed the San Diego Marathon (26.2 miles) and also ran in the Pittsburgh Marathon last May. in the Maternal/Child Health Department at the University of Texas School of Nursing, Galveston, TX , conducts research on pediatric asthma. The director of Camp RAD, a summer day camp for six- through 12-year-old children with mild to moderate asthma, she successfully developed the Camp RAD-in-a-Box Program, a turn key program to enable other communities to implement their own camps using the Camp RAD model. She has published numerous articles related to pediatric asthma and has presented nationally and internationally on the topic. Dr. Meng currently serves as guest editor of The Nursing Clinics of North America. 28 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH A L U M N I N E W S + N OT E S C AL LI NG AL L P RE S BY D IP LOMA GR AD S! Dean Dunbar-Jacob is interested in locating diploma graduates of the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing who went on to earn degrees at the School of Nursing. If this profile fits you, please contact Joan Nock, the School’s associate director of alumni relations at 412-624-2404 or via e-mail at jno100@pitt.edu. A LUM NI IND U CT ED IN TO A CA D E M Y Four School of Nursing alumni were inducted as Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing in Florida this past November. Inductees were Dr. Susan Albrecht, MN ’78, BSN ’75; Dr. Joan Such Lockhart, PhD ’92, MNEd ’79, BSN ’76; Dr. Bernadette Vulcan Melnyk, MSN ’83; and Dr. Madeline Turkeltaub, MN ’70. NE W SC H OL ARS H IP E STA B L I S H E D The School of Nursing is pleased to announce the establishment of the ”Lt. Ann Visnovsky Miner—Class of 1948 Nursing Scholarship Fund.” This scholarship is the result of a gift from Mrs. Visnovsky Miner's family, presented in her memory and also to honor the Class of 1948. A former resident of Winder, Pennsylvania., Miss Visnovsky ( BSNEd '48) was a diploma nurse and served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II, prior to earning her degree at Pitt. Mr. Stephen Miner, one of Mrs. Visnovsky's sons, and his wife, Karen, will be on hand for School of Nursing Alumni Day 2003 on Saturday, May 3 at the WANT E D : NUR SI NG PR O FESS I ONA L S FO R PUB L IC HE ALT H E ME R GE NCIE S Have you administered nursing care to large numbers of patients experiencing the same problem at the same time? Can you use a bifurcated needle to administer smallpox vaccines? The School of Nursing, in association with the Graduate School of Public Health, the University of Pittsburgh and the Region 13 Weapons of Mass Destruction ( WMD) Task Force are working to develop a list of health care practitioners available to respond in times of public health emergencies. Volunteer roles could include providing immunizations, working in a neighborhood emergency shelter, assisting in distribution of prophylactic antibiotics, working with the national pharmaceutical stockpile, or practicing in other interesting settings. Those experienced with the use of bifurcated needles and smallpox immunizations are particularly needed. If you are a PA resident, please contact Paul Kapsar, Jr., RN, MSN, CRNP , clinical informatics instructor at the School of Nursing, at pkapsar@pitt.edu or via phone at 412-624-4098 for more information. If you live outside PA, you can become a volunteer by contacting your county emergency management coordinator or state EMA office. The Public Health Service (PHS) also maintains Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT ) that welcome professional nurse participation. Petersen Events Center, when the scholarship will be formally MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT recognized. The scholarship has been set up to provide funding OEP.DHHS.GOV/NDMS/NDMS.HTML. A NUMBER OF for nursing education, primarily to students of military families, THESE RESOURCES WILL ALSO BE POSTED AT veterans, and ROTC cadets choosing to pursue military nursing. WWW.PITT.EDU/~PKAPSAR 200 3 K UE H N AWA RD A P PLI CAT IO NS DUE The Ruth Perkins Kuehn Research Award, established in honor of the School’s founder and first dean, Dr. Ruth Perkins Kuehn, is presented to an alumnus or faculty member whose work demonstrates a clear clinical application and support for the practice of nursing. Funding priorities are based on the proposal’s scientific merit, with consideration given to the investigator’s ability to conduct the study. The project’s potential for leading to further research, methodology/theory development, and its contribution to nursing knowledge or knowledge in other fields are also evaluated. Deadline for 2003 submissions is July 11, 2003. For application criteria and guidelines, contact the Center for Nursing Research at 412-624-4854. Lt. Ann Visnovsky Miner PI TT N U R S E WINTER 2003 29 A L U M N I N E W S + N OT E S Dr. Leslie Hoffman has devoted considerable research to pulmonary disease in chronically and critically ill patients. 20 0 3 LE SL I E A . H O FFM A N AC UT E CA R E N UR SI N G R E SEA RCH AWA R D The Leslie A. Hoffman Endowed Acute Care Nursing Research Fund was created to honor Dr. Leslie Hoffman’s life-long commitment to nursing research, the advancement of nursing practice, and continued improvements in patient care. The award is presented to a University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing student or faculty member to support a research program related to acute care at the School of Nursing. Priority for funding is based upon scientific merit and significance and innovation of the proposal, with consideration given to the investigator’s ability to conduct the study. The project’s potential for leading to further research and its contribution to nursing knowledge or knowledge in other fields will be considered. Deadline for 2003 submissions is July 11, 2003. For application criteria and guidelines, contact the Center for Nursing Research at 412-624-4854. Obituaries In Memoriam Dr. Corinne M. Barnes Corinne M. Barnes, PhD ’, MN ’, BSN ’, passed away suddenly on November . A professor emeritus of Pediatric Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh, she began her nursing career at Allegheny General Hospital. Dr. Barnes was the first pediatric clinical nurse specialist at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital and focused her career and research on the nursing care of children. Her research paved the way for significant changes in intensive care units in children’s hospitals across the United States. In addition to her role as educator and researcher, Dr. Barnes was a mentor to students nationally and internationally and established the Corinne M. Barnes Doctoral Scholarship at the School of Nursing. She shared her professional expertise through membership on a number of community advisory boards. Dr. Barnes was . A memorial service will be held at Heinz Chapel (Oakland campus) on Monday, March , at : p.m. Roma Kossler Reardon ’46 July 25, 2002 Dr. Florence H. Erickson Florence H. Erickson, PhD ’, MLitt ’, BSN ’, passed away on October at the age of . During an illustrious career that spanned three decades, she advanced the nursing profession as an educator, nurse, researcher, and author. Dr. Erickson, the first doctoral graduate from the School of Nursing, developed the first masters program with research in the Nursing Care of Children while chairing the Department of Nursing of Children at the University of Pittsburgh. As a pioneer in nursing research, she obtained one of the first research grants from the National Institutes of Health to study hospitalized children. Dr. Erickson was a visiting professor at universities and hospitals, as well as a national and international consultant. Dr. Dorothy Christie Scott Dr. Dorothy Christie Scott, BSN ’, a pioneer among women physicians who cared for the eyes of patients at St. Francis Hospital and on a small, impoverished island in the British West Indies, passed away on June . One of two women in the University of Pittsburgh’s medical class of , Dr. Scott worked as an operating nurse for five years before entering medical school. Her experience as a nurse made her an outstanding medical student. The first female resident in the ophthalmology training program at Eye and Ear Hospital, Dr. Scott practiced and taught at the University of Pittsburgh. She was named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania in by Governor Richard Thornburgh and was an ardent supporter of the School of Nursing. Dr. Scott was . Dr. Florence H. Erickson ’47, ’50, ’57 (former School of Nursing faculty) October 15, 2002 Madge Beauman ’51 January 26, 2001 Wanda Gardner Craig, ’52, ’58 Margaret Smith Sinnett ’57 June 11, 1996 Barbara Ann Swanson ’57 July 13, 2001 Fay Nedra Bortz Zachary ’57 April 21, 2002 Dr. Corinne A. Barnes ’60, ’64, ’74 (former School of Nursing faculty) November 19, 2002 Jacqueline Holt Vandeman, ’67 (former School of Nursing faculty) March 21, 2002 Eileen Hudson Moult ’70 October 26, 2002 Samantha Lea Bromley, ’01 March 7, 2002 If you wish to express condolences, the Alumni Office will be pleased to forward your card to the families of deceased alumni. Cards may be mailed to the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 218 Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. 30 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH B U I LD I N G T H E F U T U R E TO G E T H E R Alumni Day 2003 Saturday, May 3, 2003, The Petersen Events Center, Oakland Campus H OTE L AC C O M M O D AT I O N S SCH E DU L E OF E VE NTS H A M P TON INN-UNIVERSITY CENTER 10:00 AM 3315 Hamlet Street, Pgh, PA 15213 • Registration/Welcome/Continental Breakfast • Presentation “Nursebot – A Pearl of a Nurse” • Class Reunion Photos (’,’,’,’,’,’,’,’,’) 412-681-1000; Reservations: 1-800-Hampton Fax: 412-681-3022 Room Rate: $89/night (available until 4/11/03) Complimentary Shuttle Service & Parking H O L I DAY INN SELECT-UNIVERSITY CENTER NOON 100 Lytton Avenue, Pgh, PA 15213 Luncheon 412-682-6200; Reservations: 1-800-HOLIDAY 1:00 PM Fax: 412-681-4749 PROGRAM Room Rate: $102/night (available until 4/11/03) Complimentary Shuttle Service & Parking • Joan Godich, ’ President, Nursing Alumni Society THE WYNDHAM GARDEN HOTEL-UNIVERSITY PLAC E • Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, RN, FAAN Dean, School of Nursing • Distinguished & Honorary Alumni Awards • Nursing Alumni Scholarship Awards • Theme Basket Raffle 3454 Forbes Avenue, Pgh, PA 15213 412-683-2040; Reservations: 877-662-6242 Fax: 412-683-3934 Room Rate: $99/night (available until 4/11/03) Complimentary Shuttle Service; Parking Fee of $10 M A R R I OTT RESIDENCE INN 3890 Bigelow Boulevard, Pgh, PA 15213 • Tours: Petersen Events Center; School of Nursing 412-621-2200; Fax: 412-621-0955 Room Rate: $109/night (available until 4/11/03) Complimentary Shuttle Service PARKING: Limited passes ($5) available. For more information, contact Joan Nock at 412-624-2404 or jno100@pitt.edu REGISTRATION FORM ALUMNI DAY 2003, SATURDAY MAY 3, 2003 PLEASE RSVP BY APRIL 25, 2003 ● ● YES, I PLAN TO ATTEND ALUMNI DAY. NUMBER ATTENDING ________________ X $40/PERSON = $ ____________________ NO, I CANNOT ATTEND BUT WISH TO MAKE A DONATION OF $_______________ PARKING PASS @ $5 (MAILED PRIOR TO EVENT.) $ ____________________ TOTAL = $ ____________________ PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME (INCLUDE NAME AT GRADUATION): ADDRESS: CITY/STATE/ZIP: PHONE: ● E-MAIL: CHECK HERE IF NEW ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER NAME(S) OF GUEST(S): PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AND RETURN WITH THIS FORM TO: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, SCHOOL OF NURSING, ROOM 218, 3500 VICTORIA STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15261. CONTACT JOAN NOCK, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AT 412-624-2404 OR JNO100@PITT.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION. THIS FORM CAN ALSO BE DOWNLOADED FROM OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.NURSING.PITT.EDU. CLICK ON “ALUMNI & FRIENDS.” PITT NURSE WINTER 2003 31 REMEMBER WHEN Can you identify the year and the faces for this photo? IF SO, CONTACT JOAN NOCK AT 412-624-2404 OR JNO100@PITT.EDU. WE WILL PUBLISH YOUR ANSWER IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF PITT NURSE. Want to share your memories with fellow alums? Just send us your favorite photo of yesteryear, and we’ll run it in an upcoming issue. Submit your pics to: Pitt Nurse, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 218 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. All pictures will be returned. The “Remember When” photograph that appeared in the Fall 2002 issue elicited responses from alumni who identified these students as members of the Class of 1952! Bottom row (l to r): Wanda Gardener, Suzanne Laughrey Second row (l to r): Ruth Dunn, Marie Trimble, Ruth Duncan Third row (l to r): Kathryn Evans, Viola Gaydos, Marie Fedak, Nancy Glazier, Ruth Sheldrake Fourth row (l to r): Margaret Walls, Doris Jean Krebs, Dolores Hout, Wilma Betts Fifth row (l to r): Frances Lamarca, Edna Mae Wilson Thanks to everyone who recognized this group of student nurses. 32 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH N UR SI N G AL U MNI S OC IET Y EX E CUT IV E C O MM IT TEE What’s Happening? 2002-2003 OFFICERS Please send us information about your career advancements, papers presented, honors received, appointments, and further education. We’ll include your news in the Alumni Notes section as space allows. Indicate names, dates, and locations. Photos are welcome! Please print clearly. PRESIDENT Joan Godich ’97 VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Pelc Gotaskie ’77, ’94 SECRETARY NAME: Tricia Kenney Roesch ’99 DEGREE AND YEAR OF GRADUATION: B AC CA L A U R E ATE REPRESENTATIVE Pam Cupec ’84 HOME ADDRESS: IS THIS A NEW HOME ADDRESS? ● YES ● NO ● YES ● NO POST-BACCALAUREATE REPRESENTATIVES Joan P. Byers ’87 Evelyn Ramming ’59 EX-OFFICIO Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob HOME TELEPHONE: PAST-PRESIDENT BUSINESS ADDRESS: IS THIS A NEW BUSINESS ADDRESS? Kristine Keefer Wolff ’93, ’00 PITT NURSE ASSOCIATE DEAN, DEVELOPMENT, ALUMNI AFFAIRS, AND STUDENT SERVICES BUSINESS TELEPHONE: Susan A. Albrecht, ’75, ’78, ’81 E-MAIL ADDRESS: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS POSITION(S): Joan F. Nock NEWS: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Mary Rodgers Schubert DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Mark Soroka SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Jennifer M. Whitehurst INTERNS Emily Alison McBee Stephanie Wentworth DESIGN Wall-to-Wall Studios, Inc. PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY Joe Kapelewski The University of Pittsburgh, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the University prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Further, the University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University’s mission. COMPLETE AND RETURN TO : Pitt Nurse Joan F. Nock Associate Director of Alumni Relations University of Pittsburgh This policy applies to admissions, employment, access to, and treatment in University School of Nursing programs and activities. This is a commitment made by the University and is in accor- 218 Victoria Building dance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations. For information on University equal opportunity and affirmative action programs and compliant/grievance procedures, please contact: William A. Savage, Assistant to the Chancellor and Director of Affirmative Action (and Title IX and 504, ADA Coordinator), Office of Affirmative Action, 901 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, (412) 648-7860. 3500 Victoria Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261 E-mail: jno100@pitt.edu